Don't put your trowel away just yet! While autumn is on its way, the soil is still warm, making it the perfect time to plant for a late-season harvest. By sowing seeds now, you can enjoy fresh vegetables through autumn and even into the winter months. To get started, simply enrich your soil with some compost or well-rotted manure, and get planting.
Here are five of our favorite vegetables to grow in autumn:
1. Radishes
For a quick and rewarding crop, radishes are hard to beat. They can be ready to harvest in as little as four weeks. You can sow classic round red varieties in pots, so they're easy to move indoors if a cold snap hits. For something different, try winter radishes like the popular daikon (also known as mooli), which thrives in cooler temperatures. Both the peppery roots and the edible young leaves can be used in salads or cooked.
2. Japanese Turnips
Like radishes, Japanese turnips are incredibly fast-growing. Sow them outdoors in early autumn and harvest while they are still small for a sweet, tender flavor. You can also grow them in a greenhouse for a later harvest. Don't forget to use the young leaves as turnip greens.
3. Spinach
Hardy varieties like 'Giant Winter' spinach will produce "cut-and-come-again" leaves all through the winter, especially when grown in a polytunnel or under horticultural fleece. Before sowing, prepare the soil with plenty of organic matter. Give the plants enough space for air circulation to help prevent downy mildew. A late summer or early autumn sowing will give you a harvest in the fall, with a second crop ready for spring.
4. Kale
As a classic winter crop, kale can handle even the coldest weather. While it's best to sow kale in early summer, you can often find seedlings in garden centers now. Plant them in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Regular picking will encourage the plant to produce more leaves, providing you with a steady harvest all winter. You may need to cover your plants with netting to protect them from hungry birds.
5. Winter Greens for Salads
Keep your salad bowl full all winter with hardy greens like lamb's lettuce or Oriental varieties such as mizuna and mibuna, which thrive in cooler conditions. If you plant them in a polytunnel or under a cloche, they will keep producing fresh leaves for months. The compact 'Winter Gem' iceberg lettuce is also a great choice for growing in a pot, even on a small balcony.
With these seeds and seedlings, you can enjoy the satisfaction of harvesting your own fresh vegetables and salads all winter long.
